David Thiselton

Glen Kotzen has some good chances on WSB Met day and this includes two runners in Gr 1 events.

He said, “We’re going to have a cracking day. Obviously we’ve still got to wait for the final bloods, which is only on the morning of the race. But I’m really, really chuffed with how they’re working and the way I’ve placed them.”

The Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes over 1600m is in the unusual spot of race 2 on the day and Kotzen, asked whether his charge, the gallant Lancaster Bomber filly Rascova, would enjoy the step down in trip from the 1800m of the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes confirmed, “Yes, definitely last time up the pacemaker never suited us, because she went so fast, so we ended up being the pacemaker. The 1800m has always been a touch far for her, so this is the race that we wanted to get her fit and ready for, and she’s had a great prep coming into this race.”

She is drawn two with Gavin Lerena up and faces her arch rival Double Grand Slam for the eleventh time with the score at 6-4 to Double Grand Slam. 

Kotzen believes the latter is the chief danger as he questions the form of the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. Fatal Flaw won that race by a cosy two lengths, but second place was filled by the 93-rated Scarlet McCaw and Glen questioned whether the latter was a Gr 1 racehorse. The question will be answered on Saturday, because both Fatal Flaw and Scarlet Macaw are in the Majorca.

Later, Kotzen runs the talented and versatile Dynasty gelding King Regent in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship over 1000m and he said, “His form up the straight is deadly (two wins and a close third in four starts). In the King’s Plate his bloods weren’t 100% right and he still ran an okay race. He doing nicely and I’m just freshening him up and I’m looking forward to seeing him run.”

King Regent can start slowly on occasion, but Kotzen said, “He jumped nicely the other day and I don’t see why he won’t jump well again. It just depends on who’s going mad next to him.”

King Regent has a nice enough draw of seven and his regular rider Denis Schwarz rides. Kotzen believed any one of about ten horses could win the race and he made King Regent a good outsider.

Kotzen’s day starts in race one with the eye-catching Call Of The Karoo (William Longsword) running in the Listed Heineken Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1100m, although she is drawn on the wrong side by trends in barrier position eleven of eleven.

Glen said, “She will have to come over from the draw but it is not too much of a hassle. She’s definitely a runner. If the jockey (JP van der Merwe) had known her first time out she would have got a little bit closer. But anyway, I’m very happy she’s had a great prep. This has been a race that we wanted her to run in, and we’ll see.”

She was a 3,75 length second to the smart Black Cheetah over 800m on debut, but she is a long-striding sort who was staying on well on debut and will appreciate the step up in trip. Black Cheetah beat a good field next time out to frank the form.

In the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m the yard run Blackberry Malt and Holding Thumbs.

Glen said, “In the 2000m race at Fairview in October Blackberry was beaten a shorthead and two lengths behind him was Holding Thumbs, so he has got to have a chance if he stays, we’ll see. They don’t go a cracking pace in these staying races, so it could be an easy 2,800m. We don’t know if he stays the distance, but he’s by Ideal World and he’s an honest and solid horse and he’s doing well.”

He said about Holding Thumbs, “He’s won over 2.500m (and he was a close second last time over 2500m). I’ll put the blinkers back on him, I think that he was running around in the closing stages last time out. He’s honest and I think he’s got a big shout.”

He added, “But the horse to beat at the weights is Mucho Dinero, as he is many kgs better off with a lot of the horses he faced last time. But he isn’t the soundest of horses, so who knows what’s going to come to the track?”

Kotzen runs Disting and Golden Tatjana in the Listed SABC Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m and he said, “Disting needed her last run quite badly and she can be competitive. We are going to fit her with earmuffs and a hood as she seems to like it. It’s quite an open race, but I think she’s got a chance.”

He continued, Golden Tatjana, “She returned from a knee chip for her last run and she’ll run a much improved race.”

In race ten over 1400m he runs Commanding and Walk With Me and said, “Commanding just found one horse better last time (the smart Garrix) and on paper he’s probably our best runner on the day. He’s got a draw, he’s working well and we think he’s a huge runner.”

He added, “Walk With Me hasn’t got the best of draws and he’s quite a quirky little horse. He’s a nice horse and we’ve been waiting to give him a run around the bend and it will be nice to give the owners a runner on the day.” 

Graeme Hawkins

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse will be buzzing on Saturday for the running of the R5-million World Sports Betting Cape Town Met (Gr1) over 2000m which headlines a bumper 12-race programme. The Racing Operators’ have announced a R2-million Pick 6 carry-over, and the pool is expected to reach R10-million! Not only will the eyes of the local horse racing fraternity be firmly focussed on the day’s high-class action, but with the race meeting having been granted World Pool status by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, racing fans and punters around the globe will actively participate in the enjoyment and splendour of one of South Africa’s greatest race meetings.

Billed as the eighth race on the card, the WSB Cape Town Met is the penultimate leg of the Pick 6, and a viable A-list of potential winners could be Eight On Eighteen, Oriental Charm, Future Swing and Rascallion. Eight On Eighteen is the only three-year-old in the field and is widely being touted as the horse to beat. He finished second behind One Stripe in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1) over 1600m and the latter demolished his older rivals in the R3-million L’Ormarins Kings Plate (Gr1) earlier this month. Eight On Eighteen has yet to be tested beyond 1600m but leaves the impression that the extra 400m will pose no problem and it doesn’t hurt that the progressive son of Lancaster Bomber will be ridden by Champion Jockey Richard Fourie for the Champion Trainer Justin Snaith.

Rascallion, one of two 7yo’s in the 16-horse line-up, is in the form of his life having won the Cape Mile over 1600m and the Premier Trophy over 1800m in his last two starts. Rascallion was runner-up in last year’s “Met” and is equally at home over 2000m. He does have a wide draw to overcome but he likes to track the pace, and Sean Veale should be able to find a good spot soon after the start.

2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July hero, Oriental Charm, was a fluent winner of the 1600m WSB Green Point Stakes (Gr2) before fluffing his lines in the L’Ormarins Kings Plate three weeks ago. He is undoubtedly a better horse over this more testing trip and can be forgiven one bad day at the office. He is a resolute galloper who likes to go forward and if given a “soft” lead could dictate from start to finish.

On pure ratings Future Swing has a lot find on some of the principal contenders here but to counter that, he has had the perfect prep into this year’s WSB Cape Town Met. His last win came in the WSB Greville 1900 (Gr2) back in May when beating Oriental Charm in receipt of 2kgs. His last start in the Premier Trophy was particularly encouraging when running on strongly to finish just over a length behind Rascallion whom he now meets on 1kg better terms. Snaith is bidding for his third consecutive “Met” victory and Future Swing, with Grant Van Niekerk in the saddle, provides solid back-up to the more fancied Eight On Eighteen.

See It Again heads the B-list of those looking to score on Saturday. While on best form the 5yo son of Twice Over has an undeniable chance in this Weight-For Age contest, his poor effort in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate three weeks ago was hardly the sort of performance to inspire any confidence. Piere Strydom takes the ride for trainer Michael Roberts and with the blinkers removed, his legion of fans will be hoping for the “real” See It Again to pitch up on Saturday. Montien is a top-class racehorse in his own right and comes into Saturday’s Met off the back of a very good second behind One Stripe in the LKP. There is a question mark as to whether 2000m is truly within his compass but he would not be the first “miler” to triumph in the “Met” and he commands a measure of respect.

Pick 6 bankers are not easy to find on such a quality-laden and competitive day’s racing but perhaps Garrix fits the bill in the last leg, the City of Cape Town Politician Stakes (Gr3) over 1800m. The 3yo son of Vercingetorix tackles the distance for the first time, which is a query, but he has shown high-class potential and appears destined to make his mark at Graded-Stakes level.

Andrew Harrison

Punters face a competitive card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today but Darryl Moore can get the ball rolling in the card opener. 

He saddles Bring The Magic that has run well on the poly and Moore has removed the blinkers in his recent starts on the turf. He should go close in this field. River Dance has shown consistent recent form and Stuart Ferries runner has a strong chance in this line-up. Fire Tiger found some market support on debut and the experience should bring him on. 

Roy’s Grace can get the PA off to a good start as she was narrowly beaten last run when stepping up in trip. She is back down in trip and on the poly but Raymond Danielson stays with the ride for Paul Gadsby and can go one better in a tough race. Danger could be Predator’s Surprise who is way better than her last run. The switch to the poly could help. Lightinthedarkness has shown some ability and now comes into the race with only 49kg to shoulder. 

Perfectly Picked could finally get the maiden tag off his back as he has shown some ability and has been coming down in the ratings. This looks to be the ideal race. El Capitan has shown up well in two starts since arriving from the Cape. He steps up in trip and takes to the poly for the first time but looks good enough to take on this field. Glorious Butterfly has been a late starter but has not been far back at her last two. The switch to the poly and step up in trip could suit in another tricky maiden. The Wolf has been improving slowly and has a money chance. Fire Force tried further last run when back in blinkers and was not far back. He has been showing some recent improvement. 

Louis Goosen saddled a treble at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and Off Limits could be one of the better bets on the card in the first leg of the Pick 6. She goes well on the poly and Goosen has declared first time blinkers. Muzi Yeni rides and she looks to be the right one here. Queen Amina had a wide draw to contend with last start and showed up well after her maiden win. She makes her poly debut. Lady My Lady has shown up well in two starts since arriving from the Cape. She was only a maiden winner last start but looks capable again. 

Indecent Proposal arrived in KZN with indifferent Cape form. He is a lightly raced four-year-old but has shown ability and the change of environment and the switch of surface could bring out the best in the fifth. Mac Hardy may just have needed his last run after a short break. His best recent form has been on the poly over this trip. 

The sixth is another tricky handicap but Prankster took advantage of a light weight to get home narrowly last time out. She is at best over this trip, down in class and has Craig Zackey in place of an apprentice. Veteran Purple Powahouse is struggling for his next win but is never far back and this race could see him home. Swiss Parade is back on her favourite surface so her last run is best ignored. She has a handy weight and should feature. 

In the seventh, Andre Nel’s KZN satellite yard has come alive in recent weeks  and Head Girl has only been out of the money four times in 19 starts. She is at home on the poly over her right trip and must have bright chance. Purple Flower has a big weight but is at home over course and distance and should put in another good shift. Stable companion Sweet Julia is never far off and although she has been confined to the shortest trip of late she has gone close over this distance. 

The last is another competitive race but Winter Waves is down in class with a 4kg claimer aboard. He still has a big weight but should be competitive in a difficult handicap. Preemptive Strike is a game warrior and got home narrowly last time out. But he does take a drop in class and has the benefit of Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance. Lions Eye could be the surprise package. He is lightly raced and his recent form has been in the soft. The switch in surface could bring out the best. Voldemort is never far back and another in with a winning chance.

RACE 1

5 BRING THE MAGIC   4 RIVER DANCE   6 FIRE TIGER   2 HIGHER LOVE

Summary: BRING THE MAGIC (5) has run well on the poly and Darryl Moore has removed the blinkers in his recent starts on the turf. He should go close in this field. RIVER DANCE (4) has shown consistent recent form and Stuart Ferries runner has a strong chance in this line-up. FIRE TIGER (6) found some market support on debut and the experience should bring him on. HIGHER LOVE (2) has shown some ability and has a money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 5-4-6-2).

RACE 2

6 ROY’S GRACE   2 PREDATOR’S SURPRISE   5 LIGHINTHEDARKNESS   12 BOA LA

Summary: Tricky maiden. ROY’S GRACE (6) was narrowly beaten last run when stepping up in trip. She is back down in trip and on the poly but Raymond Danielson stays with the ride for Paul Gadsby and can go one better in a tough race. PREDATOR’S SURPRISE (2) is way better than her last run. The switch to the poly could help. LIGHTINTHEDARKNESS (5) has shown some ability and now comes into the race with only 49kg to shoulder. BAO LA (12) is lightly raced with a wide draw. She has patchy form but at best can feature in this line-up. (Andrew Harrison: 6-2-5-12).

RACE 3

10 PERFECTLY PICKED   6 EL CAPITAN   3 GLORIOUS BUTTERFLY   8 THE WOLF

Summary: PERFECTLY PICKED (10) has shown some ability and has been coming down in the ratings. This looks to be the ideal race. EL CAPITAN (6) has shown up well in two starts since arriving from the Cape. He steps up in trip and takes to the poly for the first time but looks good enough to take on this field. GLORIOUS BUTTERFLY (3) has been a late starter but has not been far back at her last two. The switch to the poly and step up in trip could suit in another tricky maiden. THE WOLF (8) has been improving slowly and has a money chance. FIRE FORCE (12) tried further last run when back in blinkers and was not far back. He has been showing some recent improvement. (Andre Harrison: 10-6-3-8).

RACE 4

1 OFF LIMITS   2 QUEEN AMINA   4 LADY MY LADY   6 PLAY WITH FIRE

Summary: OFF LIMITS (1) goes well on the poly and Louis Goosen has declared first time blinkers. Muzi Yeni rides and she looks to be the right one here. QUEEN AMINA (2) had a wide draw to contend with last start and showed up well after her maiden win. She makes her poly debut. LADY MY LADY (4) has shown up well in two starts since arriving from the Cape. She was only a maiden winner last start but looks capable again. PLAY WITH FIRE (6) has consistent Highveld form over this trip and cannot be ruled out. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-4-6).

RACE 5

1 INDECENT PROPOSAL   5 MAC HARDY   2 POFIRIO   12 RUN TO RIO

Summary: INDECENT PROPOSAL (1) arrives in KZN with indifferent Cape form. He is a lightly raced four-year-old but has shown ability and the change of environment and the switch of surface could bring out the best. MAC HARDY (5) may just have needed his last run after a short break. His best recent form has been on the poly over this trip. POFIRIO (2) has been a beaten favourite at his last two and has been knocking at the door. He has improved in blinkers and should feature again from a good draw. (Andrew Harrison: 1-5-2-12).

RACE 6

3 PRANKSTER   8 PURPLE POWAHOUSE 7 SWISS PARADE   6 TEEREX

Summary: PRANKSTER (3) took advantage of a light weight to get home narrowly last time out. She is at best over this trip, down in class and has Craig Zackey in place of an apprentice. Veteran PURPLE POWAHOUSE (8) is struggling for his next win but is never far back and this race could see him home. SWISS PARADISE (7) is back on her favourite surface so her last run is best ignored. She has a handy weight and should feature. TEEREX (6) is not always consistent but could surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 3-8-7-6).

RACE 7

6 HEAD GIRL   5 PURPLE FLOWER   7 SWEET JULIA   8 MY TRUE LOVE

Summary: HEAD GIRL (6) has only been out of the money four times in 19 starts. She is at home on the poly over her right trip and must have bright chance. PURPLE FLOWER (5) has a big weight but is at home over course and distance and should put in another good shift. Stable companion SWEET JULIA (7) is never far off and although she has been confined to the shortest trip of late she has gone close over this distance. MY TRUE LOVE (8) has her first outing for her new stable and had some fair PE form. She could upset. Watch the market here. (Andrew Harrison: 6-5-7-8).

RACE 8

5 WINTER WAVES   8 REEMPTIVE STRIKE   7 LIONS EYE   9 VOLDEMORT

Summary: WINTER WAVES (5) is down in class with a 4kg claimer aboard. He still has a big weight but should be competitive on a difficult handicap. PREEMPTIVE STIKE (8) is a game warrior and got home narrowly last time out. But he does take a drop in class and has the benefit of Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance. LIONS EYE (7) could be the surprise package. He is lightly raced and his recent form has been in the soft. The switch in surface could bring out the best. VOLDEMORT (9) is never far back and another in with a winning chance. (Andrew Harrison: 5-8-7-9).

Soccer Any 13Xtra on Saturday, 25 January 2025, C/Over R 200 000, Pool Closes at 15h00, Sport 13 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R 500 000